Sources: the companies, industry estimates, others as noted. Revenue
data for fiscal years ended Dec. XX, except as noted. (X.) Estimate
by Chain Drug Review (X.) Reported by the Pine Bluff Commercials SEA
Life magazine in July 2011 (X.)Fiscal year ended Aug. XX (X.)
Estimated and not confirmed by company (X.) Fiscal year ended Oct.
XX (X.) Formerly incLuded as a subsidiary of No.XX Forrest City
Grocery Co., the bulk of which was sold to pubLicly traded
Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc. of South San Francisco, CA, in
2010 (X.) Revenue from XX stores owned by the Cohn family.
Ten additional stores operated by licensees generated
approximately $XX million in 2011. (X.) Most recent estimate
by Hoovers (X.) IncLudes individual entities with various
ownership interests by Harold Gwatney famiLy XX Most recent
estimate by The Gale Group

Researched by Gwen Moritz

Full article

Nearly all of the retailers on this year's list of Arkansas' largest private companies saw revenue gains over 2010.

"What you see is that retail sales regained all-time highs in 2011," said Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Arkansas' Walton Business College. "The consumer was spending money again in Kathy 2011. There was no Deck doubt about that."

One of the best retail sectors was automotive, she said.

Hickingbotham Investments Inc. of Little Rock has a number of auto dealerships in its portfolio of businesses that includes restaurants. In 2011, Hickingbotham Investments' revenue increased XX.X percent to $XXX million.

"Across the company, we have just seen a general increase in our business, and we attribute that to some improvement in the economy," said Gene Whisenhunt, a partner in the firm. "And the economy has forced you to do things a lot better."

He credits the company's leadership team for "doing a great job to capture the business."

Out of the company's portfolio of businesses, its luxury auto brands and Harley Davidson dealerships have seen "tremendous" improvement, Whisenhunt said.